Emma says her daughter has been left frustrated and feels abandoned by North Durham Academy after she requested help and support from the school over the last year

“I don’t think I should be having to go to court when I have asked for help and guidance and had no support. If parents do have to go to court the children should be made to go too, it might just scare them and do the trick to get them back to school.”

Last year the school was told by Ofsted inspectors it needed to work to ensure attendance levels continue to rise after its second poor inspection rating in four years.

North Durham Academy opened in 2011 and moved to a £30m campus in Stanley in 2013.

A school spokesman said: “Due to imminent legal proceedings relating to a student attendance case that is currently taking place North Durham Academy are unable to comment at this time.”